Passive device for broadband acoustic acquisition (3) that can communicate with a digital processing unit (4), the device including a plurality of microphone sensors (7) that can generate an electric signal (8) that is representative of an acoustic pressure (9) received, electronics for processing and digitizing (12) electric signals being able to adapt the electric signals and transform them into digital signals (13) of acoustic pressure, transfer electronics (14) being able to communicate with a digital processing unit (4) and to make possible the transfer of the digital signals of acoustic pressure to the digital processing unit. The microphone sensors and the transfer electronics are mounted on a multifunctional rigid support element (17) that incorporates the processing and digitizing electronics.
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1. Passive device for broadband acoustic acquisition able to communicate with a digital processing unit, the device having a plurality of microphone sensors, each of the sensors being able to generate an electric signal that is representative of an acoustic pressure received by said microphone sensor, wherein the plurality of microphone sensors comprises a number of microphone sensors greater than or equal to six and less than or equal to twelve, wherein for any first sensor selected from among the plurality of microphone sensors and any second sensor selected from among the plurality of microphone sensors: i) a maximum distance (L 1 ) between the first sensor and the second sensor is less than or equal to thirty-five centimeters, and ii) a minimum distance (L 2 ) between the first sensor and the second sensor is greater than or equal to four centimeters, electronics for processing and digitizing electric signals that are able to adapt the electric signals generated by the microphone sensors and to transform them into digital signals of acoustic pressure, transfer electronics able to communicate with a digital processing unit and to make possible the transfer of the digital signals of acoustic pressure from the electronics for processing and digitizing to said digital processing unit, and a multifunctional rigid support element that incorporates the electronic for processing and digitizing, wherein the microphone sensors and the transfer electronics are mounted on the multifunctional rigid support element, and wherein the sensors are placed approximately on a plane surface so that a thickness dimension of the passive system in a direction of thickness, approximately perpendicular to the surface on which the plurality of microphone sensors extends, is less than five centimeters.
A passive broadband acoustic acquisition device communicates with a digital processing unit. It includes 6-12 microphone sensors. The distance between any two sensors ranges from 4cm to 35cm. Electronics adapt and digitize the sensor signals into acoustic pressure data. Transfer electronics then send the digitized data to a digital processing unit. A rigid support holds the processing and digitizing electronics. The microphone sensors and transfer electronics are mounted on this support. The sensors are arranged approximately on a flat surface, keeping the device's thickness under 5cm.
2. Passive device for acoustic acquisition according to claim 1 , wherein sensors from among the plurality of microphone sensors are placed approximately in a circle.
The acoustic acquisition device from the previous description has its microphone sensors placed in an approximate circle. This circular arrangement helps capture sound from all directions.
3. Passive device for acoustic acquisition according to claim 1 , wherein the multifunctional rigid support element has a plurality of receptacles, and wherein each sensor from among the plurality of microphone sensors is mounted in an associated receptacle from among the plurality of receptacles.
The acoustic acquisition device from the description above incorporates a rigid support with multiple receptacles. Each microphone sensor is mounted securely within its own dedicated receptacle on the support, ensuring precise positioning and stability.
4. Passive device for acoustic acquisition according to claim 1 , further having at least one distance sensor incorporated in the multifunctional rigid support element.
The acoustic acquisition device from the description above includes at least one distance sensor integrated into the rigid support. This distance sensor can be used to measure the distance to a sound source or other objects in the environment.
5. Passive device for acoustic acquisition according to claim 1 , wherein the multifunctional rigid support element has a means for association with a digital processing unit that is able to attach a digital processing unit rigidly to the multifunctional rigid support element.
The acoustic acquisition device from the description above has a mechanism on its rigid support to rigidly attach to a digital processing unit. This ensures a secure and stable connection between the device and the processing unit.
6. Passive device for acoustic acquisition according to claim 1 , having one of the following elements: the multifunctional rigid support element has a rigid shell in which the processing and digitizing electronics are housed, the multifunctional rigid support element has two rigid shells attached opposite one another and containing between them the processing and digitizing electronics, and/or the multifunctional rigid support element is perforated.
The acoustic acquisition device from the description above has one of the following features related to its rigid support: either a rigid shell that houses the processing and digitizing electronics, or two rigid shells attached opposite one another with the processing electronics contained between them. Alternatively, the rigid support may be perforated to allow for airflow or reduce weight.
7. Passive device for acoustic acquisition according to claim 1 , wherein the multifunctional rigid support element has at least one of the following elements: a grasping means able to make possible handling and carrying of the acoustic acquisition device with one or two hands, in particular a zone or zones of a rigid shell or of rigid shells, a means for fastening to an external support, in particular to a tripod stand, and/or an autonomous electric power source incorporated in the multifunctional rigid support element, in particular a battery.
The acoustic acquisition device from the description above includes at least one of the following features related to its rigid support: a grasping mechanism for one or two-handed carrying (e.g., a shaped area on the shell), a mounting point for attaching to an external support like a tripod, or an integrated battery for standalone power.
8. Passive device for acoustic acquisition according to claim 1 , wherein the transfer electronics are: either wire transfer electronics having a connector and able to communicate with the digital processing unit by an interconnection cable, or wireless transfer electronics having an antenna or an optical emitter-receiver and able to communicate with the digital processing unit by means of a wireless connection, in particular a wireless radiofrequency connection or a wireless optical connection.
The acoustic acquisition device from the description above uses either wired or wireless transfer electronics. Wired transfer uses a connector and cable. Wireless transfer uses an antenna or optical transceiver, communicating via radio frequency or optical signals, respectively, to the digital processing unit.
9. Passive device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of microphone sensors equals exactly eight microphone sensors.
The acoustic acquisition device described previously has exactly eight microphone sensors.
10. Passive device according to claim 1 , wherein the maximum distance (L 1 ) between the first sensor and the second sensor is equal to twenty centimeters.
The acoustic acquisition device described previously has a maximum sensor-to-sensor distance of 20 centimeters.
11. Passive device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of microphone sensors equal exactly eight of microphone sensors, and wherein the maximum distance (L 1 ) between the first sensor and the second sensor is equal to twenty centimeters.
The acoustic acquisition device described previously has exactly eight microphone sensors, and the maximum distance between any two sensors is 20 centimeters.
12. Passive device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of microphone sensors define a perimeter and the electronics for processing and digitizing and the transfer electronics are mounted on the multifunctional rigid support element within an interior of the perimeter.
The acoustic acquisition device described previously has its microphone sensors defining a perimeter. The processing/digitizing electronics and transfer electronics are mounted on the rigid support *inside* this perimeter. This centralizes the electronics within the sensor array.
13. Passive device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of microphone sensors define a circle and the electronics for processing and digitizing and the transfer electronics are mounted on the multifunctional rigid support element within on interior of the circle.
The acoustic acquisition device described previously has its microphone sensors arranged in a circle. The processing/digitizing and transfer electronics are mounted on the rigid support *inside* this circle.
14. Passive system for broadband acoustic imagery of an observation zone, the system comprising a passive device for acoustic acquisition according to claim 1 , a digital processing unit suited to receive digital signals of acoustic pressure from the passive device for acoustic acquisition and to determine and store, for each of the points of a plurality of points of the observation zone, at least one digital value of the acoustic pressure level at this point from the digital signals of acoustic pressure, and a means for displaying a grid of the digital values of the acoustic pressure level associated with each point of the observation zone.
A passive acoustic imaging system for an area consists of an acoustic acquisition device with the features as previously described, a digital processing unit, and a display. The processing unit receives acoustic pressure data from the device and calculates acoustic pressure levels for points in the observation zone. The display shows a grid of these values, representing a sound map of the area.
15. Passive system for acoustic imagery according to claim 14 , having one of the following elements: the digital processing unit is attached rigidly to the multifunctional rigid support element, and/or the passive device for acoustic acquisition is supplied with electric power by the digital processing unit.
The acoustic imaging system described above features either a rigid attachment of the digital processing unit to the rigid support of the acoustic acquisition device, or the acoustic acquisition device is powered by the digital processing unit.
16. Passive system for acoustic imagery according to claim 14 , wherein the display means have a touch screen able to make possible the communication of commands to the digital processing unit.
In the acoustic imaging system from above, the display has a touch screen. This allows the user to control the digital processing unit through touch-based commands.
17. Passive system for acoustic imagery according to claim 14 , further having a means for acquisition of photographic images to obtain at least one photographic image of the observation zone, and wherein the display means are able to display the photographic image of the observation zone and the grid of the digital values of the acoustic pressure level, in particular in the form of a palette of colors or of the level of gray associated with the grid of the digital values and superposed with the photographic image.
The acoustic imaging system from the previous description includes a camera to capture images of the area. The display shows both the photographic image and the acoustic pressure level grid, optionally overlaid with a color palette or grayscale to represent sound levels on the image.
18. Passive system for acoustic imagery according to claim 17 , wherein a mobile apparatus comprises the digital processing unit, the display means, and the means for acquisition of photographic images, the mobile apparatus having an autonomous electric power source, in particular a battery, preferably in which the mobile apparatus and the plurality of microphone sensors are respectively placed on opposite faces of the multifunctional rigid support element, the multifunctional rigid support element having a through opening opposite the means for acquisition of photographic images able to make it possible for the means for acquisition of photographic images to acquire a photographic image of the observation zone.
The acoustic imaging system from the previous description contains a mobile device including the digital processing unit, the display, and the camera, powered by an internal battery. The mobile device and the microphone sensors are positioned on opposite sides of the rigid support. The rigid support has an opening aligned with the camera, allowing it to capture images of the area.
19. Passive device for broadband acoustic acquisition that communicates with a digital processing unit, the device comprising: a multifunctional rigid support element; a plurality of microphone sensors arranged in a geometric arrangement and mounted on the multifunctional rigid support element, each microphone sensor able to generate an electric signal that is representative of an acoustic pressure received by said microphone sensor, wherein the plurality of microphone sensors comprises a number of microphone sensors greater than or equal to six and less than or equal to twelve, wherein for any first sensor selected from among the plurality of microphone sensors and any second sensor selected from among the plurality of microphone sensors, i) a maximum distance (L 1 ) between the first sensor and the second sensor is less than or equal to thirty-five centimeters, and ii) a minimum distance (L 2 ) between the first sensor and the second sensor is greater than or equal to four centimeters, wherein the sensors are placed approximately on a plane surface so that a thickness dimension of the passive system in a direction of thickness, approximately perpendicular to the surface on which the plurality of microphone sensors extends, is less than five centimeters; electronics for processing and digitizing electric signals that adapt the electric signals generated by the microphone sensors and to transform them into digital signals of acoustic pressure, the electronics for processing and digitizing being incorporated on the multifunctional rigid support element within an interior of the geometric arrangement; and transfer electronics that communicate with a digital processing unit and transfer of the digital signals of acoustic pressure from the electronics for processing and digitizing to said digital processing unit, the transfer electronics being mounted on the multifunctional rigid support element within an interior of the geometric arrangement.
A broadband acoustic acquisition device communicates with a digital processing unit. It includes a rigid support, and 6-12 microphone sensors mounted in a geometric arrangement. The distance between any two sensors ranges from 4cm to 35cm. The sensors lie approximately on a flat surface less than 5cm thick. Signal processing/digitizing electronics reside on the rigid support within the geometric arrangement. These electronics convert sensor signals into digital acoustic pressure data. Transfer electronics also mounted within the geometric arrangement send the data to the digital processing unit.
20. Passive device according to claim 19 , wherein the plurality of microphone sensors equals exactly eight microphone sensors and the geometric arrangement is one of the group consisting of a circle and a polygon.
The acoustic acquisition device described previously has exactly eight microphone sensors arranged in a geometric arrangement that is either a circle or a polygon.
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January 8, 2014
November 28, 2017
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